Tuesday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

Chapter 8 of John provides the Scriptural focus for this week. The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of Jerusalem has intensified. Traps are laid for Jesus; the woman caught in adultery opens the chapter. As Jesus responds in today’s reading, the true identities of Jesus and His opponents come more into focus. Jesus declares He is from ‘above’, and the Jerusalem authorities are from ‘below’. This is why they cannot recognize Him. Only when He is “lifted up”, ambiguous enough to cover first on the cross and then from the grave, will He be fully revealed.

We too can think and act more like Jesus’ opponents if we do not consider prayerfully our God-given sign, the One who was lifted up in apparent defeat. In worldly eyes, evil triumphs and death silences all words. Even Jesus’ closest followers had to spend three days confronting this deepest darkness.

Haven’t we in our encounters with various evils felt at times as the despairing world does? Aren’t these the serpents in the spiritual desert that Moses had to rescue his people from by lifting up his God-given sign?

When Jesus asked His disciples, after a hard teaching, would they leave Him too, Peter answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The world and its Princely authorities will never recognize what St. Peter did, however imperfectly at the beginning of his discipleship, in all its mysterious, Love rooted fullness.

Prayer

Lord, when we are tempted to think and act like the world, in Your mercy send us Your Spirit to help us look up with gratitude at the One ‘tree’ that bears eternal fruit.

Peter Tumulty, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, and Eleanor Tumulty

Scripture

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
Gospel: John 8:21-30

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website